Drill pipe protector



p 1934- M. R. SHIPLEY 1,974,546

DRILL PIPE PROTECTOR Filed Sept. 9, 1928 Patented Sept. 25, 1934 PATENTOFFICE DRILL PIPE PROTECTOR Marion R. Shipley, Hermosa Beach, Calif.,as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to Edward M. Smith, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 9, 1928, Serial No. 391,463

18 Claims.

My invention relates to a drill pipe protector in the form of a ring orsleeve that is adapted to be applied to the drill tube of a deep welldrilling apparatus and which ring or sleeve functions as a friction andwear receiving member between the drill tube and the casing throughwhich said drill tube operates.

It will be'understood that where a relatively long string of drilltubing is operating through well casing, there is considerable frictionand wear between the boxes, tool joints, or coupling members that areused in connecting the drill tube sections or drill pipe and the wellcasing, and it is the principal object of my invention to provide arelatively simple, strong and durable protecting device formed ofsuitable wear resisting material such as rubber, or rubber compositionand which device is constructed so that it may be firmly secured inposition upon the drill tube, to serve as a protecting member thatreceives the friction and wear between the drill tube and casing andconsequently materially increasing the life or service periods of thedrill tube joint members or boxes and preventing the same from outtingthrough the wall casing.

A further object of my invention is, to generally improve upon andsimplify the construction of the existing forms of drill pipeprotectors, and, further, to provide a device of the character referredto, that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive. ofmanufacture and capable of being easily and quickly applied to the drilltube.

Further objects of my invention are, to provide simple and efiicientmeans in the form of a wedge 35 key for firmly securing the protectingsleeve or ring upon the drill tube and to construct the protector, witha lining, preferably of fabric, that makes direct contact with the tubeupon which the protector is positioned, thereby eliminating 40 directcontact of the material composition that forms the body of the protectorwith the metal drill tube.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, my invention consists incertain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts thatwill hereinafter be more fully described and claimed and illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a portion of a drill tube and showing aprotector of my improved construction positioned thereupon.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken 0 the line 22 of Fig, 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section of the protector and showing thewedge key in the position that (c1. cos-4) it assumes when drivendownward to clamp the ring upon the drill tube.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 3 and showing the wedge keyin elevated position before being driven downward. v p 0 Fig. 5 is ahorizontal section taken through the upper portion of the protector andshowing the position of the same before the wedge key is driven downwardto clamp the protector on the drill tube.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section similar to Fig.5 and showing theprotector clamped upon the drill tube. 1

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through the upper portion of a'modifiedform of the protector.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the lower portion of the wedge key andshowingportions thereof bent so asto prevent withdrawal of the key fromthe protector.

In the construction of the preferred form of V the protector, asillustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, a short sleeve or tubular body 10is formed of suitable material, for instance, moulded rubber, orcomposition of which rubber is a principal ingredient and in order towithstand the wear and friction to which the device is subjected whilein service, it is desirable to utilize a rubber or rubber compositionthat has incorporated therewith, materials or ingredients that renderthe body of the protector highly resistant to frictional wear.

In this connection it will be understood that the prime desideratum in adevice of the character to Which my invention relates is, a strong,tough body that has a high degree of wear resisting qualities as well asresistivity to the action of oil and the like, rather than a high degreeof elasticity, although a certain degree of resilience is desirable. Y

The tubular body of the protector is split lengthwise, as designated by11, and formed in the peripheral surface of the'ring or collar, adjacentto its ends, are circumferential grooves 12. The edges of the flanges 13at the ends of the ring or collar beyond the grooves 12 are rounded andlikewise the corners of the body of the ring or collar, adjacent to thegrooves, are rounded or bevelled, as designated by 14, in order that theprotector, when positioned upon the drill tube, will readily passinternal shoulders or obstructions on the well casing.

The body of the ring or collar is provided with a lining 15 that may becomposed of any suitable material, for instance, one or more layers offabric. In some instances, this lining may comprise sections of wood,metal or composition.

Formed in the inner face of the ring or collar, 110

ends of each strap are bent inwardly and thence outwardly to form hooks19 and which latter,

when the straps are positioned in the grooves 17, occupy the apertures17 between the-grooves 12 and internally arranged channel 16.

Cooperating with the straps 18 is a wedge key 20, formed of metal ofsuch size as to pass lengthwise through the groove or channel 16 andthe' body of this wedge key, which gradually increases in width towardits lower end, is curved in horizontal cross section so as to conform tothe curvature of the drill pipe to which the protector is ap: plied. Theside edges of the wedge key are-rebent to form hook flanges 21' that areadapted to engage the hooks 19 on the ends of straps 18.

In applying the protector to a drill pipe, the edges of the body of, theprotector are spread apart to permit the protector to be slipped ontothe drill pipe and straps 18 are now positioned in grooves .12 and-theinturned hooks on the ends ofsaid straps are inserted through openings17. The wide lower end of the wedge key is now inserted downwardlythrough channel 16 so that the hook fiangesZLengage the hooks 19 and assaid wedge key is driven downwardpthe'straps 18 will be contracted so asto, very securely clamp the protector on thedrill pipe;

' Aiterthe protector has beenproperly secured in position on the drillpipe, those portions of the hook flanges 21 on the wedge key below thehooks on the lowermost one of the straps are bent by pressure againstthe body of the wedge key, as

illustrated in Fig. 8, and such action effectually locks the wedge keyagainst upward movement relative to the protector and which movement, ifpermitted, would loosen the protector and thereby affect its efficiency.1 In the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 7, the wedge keyreceiving channel is formed on the interior of the ring or collaradjacentto the longitudinal split or. opening therein and thus when thewedge collar is properly positioned in the protector it occupieslongitudinal position directly beneath the'split-in said collar.-'

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a drill pipe protector that isrelatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, capableof being easily and quickly applied to drill pipe and which protector isvery effective in-performing the functions for which it is intended. Thelining for the protector is flexible, rather than resilient and when theprotector is. contracted or compressed upon the pipe; said lining willgrip said pipe and will not tend to creep thereupon as is the case wherea'smoo-th rubber face is in direct contact with the pipe. The liningreeniorces the rubber body of the protector, prevents direct contact ofthe body of the protector withthe metal pipe, materially re= enforcesthe protector body andwhere said body is composed of rubber, it.effectively resists tendency of the rubber to tear away from the liningunder servicestrains;

In the production of the protecting rings or collars, it is desirablethatthe same be iormed'with an internal diameter that is slightlygreater than the external diameter of the drill pipes to which they areapplied and as a result all portions of the bodies of the protectorswill be put under compression when the wedge keys are driven down toclamp the protectors upon the drill pipes and thus when properly appliedno portion of the protector body is under tension.

In U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,639,315, issued to me August 16th, 1927, Ihave shown a wedge key provided on its edges with hook flanges forengaging and contracting a portion of a stove pipe casing joint and inmy present application I make use of a wedge key that is very similar tothe key disclosed. in my aforesaid patent, but in the present case thekey is utilized for contracting the metal straps" that encircle thesplit ring that forms the body of the protector- It will be understoodthat minor changes in the size, form and construction of the variousparts of my improved drill pipe protector may be made andsubstituted-for those herein shown and described without. departing fromthespirit of myinvention, the scope of which is set forth in-theappended claims. a

I claim as my invention: v,

1. A drill pipe protector, comprising a split ring, independently formedstraps each encircling the opposite ends of said splitring and means forsimultaneously engagingthe ends of said straps and drawing the sametogether to clamp saidsplit'ring upon a drill; pipe.

2. In a-drill pipe protector, a split ring pro vided in its outer facewith apair of grooves, a strap arranged in each grooveand single meansfor engaging the ends of both of said straps; and drawing the sametogether to clamp said split ring on a drill pipe.- a a Y 3. In a wearpreventer adapted for use on a drill pipe for preventing the drill pipefrom engaging the wall of the Well, the combination of a wearpreventingmeans adapted to be placed on the drill pipe, said wear-preventing meanshaving engaging means extended outward sufficiently to prevent the drillpipe from engaging the wall of the well and having a resilientengageable portion; and clamping means engaging said engageable portionof said wear-preventing means for rigidly securing said wear-preventingmeans to the drill pipe, said clamping means exerting an inward pressurethroughout the-entire circumference of said wear-preventing means, andsaid wear-preventing means thus being caused to pressurally engage saiddrill pipe throughout the entire circumference thereof.

4. In a wear preventer adapted for use on a drill pipe for preventingthe drll-pipe from-engaging. the wall of the well, the combination of 1.a wear-preventing means adapted to be placed on the drill pipe, saidwear-preventing means having engaging means extended outward sufficient-1y to prevent the drill pipe from engaging the wall of the well; aclamping means adaptedto engage an external surface of saidwear-preventing means; and constricting means for causingsaid clampingmeans to clamp said wear-preventing means tightly to the drill pipe. 7

5. In a wear preventeradapted for use on a drill pipe for preventing thedrill pipe from engaging the wall of the well, thecombination of: awear-preventing means adapted to be placed on the drill pipe, said;wear-preventing means having engaging means extended outward'sufiiciently to prevent the drill pipefrom engaging the wall of thewell; a clamping means adapted to engagean external surface ofsaidwear-preengaging the 'wall of-the well, the combination of:' aw'ear-preventing means adapted to be placed on the drill-pipe, saidwear-preventing means made from afrubber-like material havingengagin'gmeans extended outward sufiicientlylto prevent the drill pipefrom engaging the wall of the well; rn'etal ineans adapted to engage anexternal surface of said wear-preventing means; and constricting meansfor engaging said metal means for constricting same in order to causesaid wear-preventing means to tightly engage the drill pipe throughoutits entire circumference.

'7. In a wear preventer adapted for use on a drill pipe for preventingthe drill pipe from engaging the wall of the well, the combination of: awear-preventing means adapted to be placed on the drill pipe, saidwear-preventing means having engaging means extended outwardsufficiently to prevent the drill pipe from engaging the wall of thewell; a pair of clamping means adapted to extend around saidwear-preventing means, the ends thereof having connecting means; andconstricting means adapted to engage both of said connecting means toconstrict said clamping means.

8. In a wear preventer adapted for use on a drill pipe for preventingthe drill pipe from engaging the wall of the well, the combination of: awear-preventing means adapted to be placed on i the drill pipe, saidwear-preventing means having.

engaging means extended outward sufliciently to prevent the drill pipefrom engaging the wall of the well; a fabric lining secured to the innersurface of said wear-preventing means and adapted to contact the drillpipe; and separate clamping means engaging said wear-preventing meansfor rigidly securing said wear-preventing means to the drill pipe.

9. In a wear preventer adapted for use on a i; drill pipe for preventingthe drill pipe from engaging the wall of the well, the combination of: awear-preventing means adapted to be placed on the drill pipe, saidwear-preventing means having engaging means extended outwardsufficiently to prevent the drill pipe from engaging the wall of theWell; a fabric lining secured to the inner surface of saidwear-preventing means and adapted to contact the drill pipe; a clampingmeans adapted to engage an external surface of said wearpreventingmeans; and constricting means for causing said clamping means to clampsaid wearpreventing means tightly to the drill pipe.

10. A Wear preventer, comprising: a body of rubber forming a splitcylinder having an internal diameter such that it can frictionallyengage the outer surface of a drill pipe when applied thereto, andhaving an outside diameter greater than the collars of the drill pipe,said rubber (having grooves formed therein concentric with said pipe;

and metal members placed in said grooves and i abrasion by the walls ofthe well in which the drill pipe is used.

11. In a wear preventer adapted for securement to a string of drillpipe, said wear preventer comprising: a body of rubber-like materialhav-' "i ing resilient or yieldable engageable portions;

engageable portions whereby same may-be pressed into gripping engagementwith said drill pipe; andconstricting means engaging the ends 'of saidband means whereby-said band means may be causedto exert apressure'inwardly against said engage ab'le' portions. I 1 12.'In a wearpreventer adapted for securement'to 'a strin'g of drill pipe, said wearpreventer -comprising:" a body of rubber-like material'hav ing-resilientor-yieldable engageable portions; flexible bandrneans applied to theends of saidfengageableportions whereby same may be pressed intogripping engagement with said drill pipe throughout its entirecircumference; and constricting means engaging the ends of said bandmeans whereby said band means may be caused to exert a pressure inwardlyagainst said engageable portions throughout the entire circumference ofsaid engageable portions.

13. In a wear preventer adapted for securement to a string of drillpipe, said wear preventer comprising: a body of rubber-like materialhaving resilient or yieldable engageable portions; circumferential metalmeans applied to the opposite ends of said body adapted to act againstsaid engageable portions for compressing same inwardly against the drillpipe throughout the entire circumference thereof for causing afull-circle gripping action; and means engageable with the ends of saidcircumferential metal means for constricting said circumferential meansin a manner to produce said inward compressing of said engageableportions.

14. In a wear preventer adapted for securement to a cylindrical wellmember, the combination of: a wear preventer member made from a rubberor rubber-like material, adapted to surround said well member; acircumferential metal member positioned to engage an annular portion ofsaid wear preventer member, said circumferential metal member havingends positioned adjacent each other; and means adapted to be installedafter said Wear preventer member and said circumferential metal memberhave been positioned on the well member for constricting saidcircumferential metal member.

15. In a wear preventer adapted for use on a drill pipe for preventingthe drill pipe from engaging the wall of the well, the combination of awear-preventing means adapted to be placed on the drill pipe, saidwear-preventing means having engaging means extended outwardsufficiently to prevent the drill pipe from engaging the wall of thewell; a clamping means adapted to engage an external surface of saidwear-preventing means; and constricting means adapted to be installedafter said wear-preventing means and said clamping means have beenpositioned on said drill pipe for causing said clamping means to clampsaid wear-preventing means tightly to the drill pipe.

16. In a wear preventer adapted for securement to a string of drillpipe, said wear preventer comprising: a body of rubber-like materialhaving resilient or yieldable engageable portions; fiexible band meansapplied to said engageable portions whereby same may be pressed intogripping engagement with said drill pipe; and constricting means adaptedto be installed after said body and said flexible band means have beenpo-' flexible bandmean's appliedto the ends" of said sitioned on saiddrill pipe whereby said band.

tral-cavitythrough which a mud laden fluid may be pumped and adapted todrive a bit secured to the lower end thereof; a body of rubber in theform of asplit cylinder having an internal diam-- to a string of drillpipe-;said wear preventercom-- prising: a body vof rubber-like materia1in the form of a split cylinder having an internal diameter. suchthatthe inner surface thereof can be forced against the outer surface ofa pipe;-wa11s forming grooves in the ends of said-body concentric with"said'pipe; a metal member in each of said grooves adapted whenconstricted to cause said body-t0 firmly grip said pipe; and wedge meansengageable with the outer surface of said pipeandthe inner ends of saidmetal members; whereby said metal-members can be constricted MARION R.SHIRLEY.

